Tuesday, 30 June 2015

The Liberal Baird government continues to deceive South West Sydney with its claims that major infrastructure projects such as WestConnex and the Sydney Metro will address public transport issues for suburbs such as Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar.

The $14.9 billion dollars spent on WestConnex which arguably is a future carpark services no where near suburbs such as Chester Hill and Regents Park which have lost over 80% of train services due to the 2013 timetable changes. A new toll road that doesn't even go into the Sydney CBD cannot simply replace 80% of train services that have been cut from South Western Sydney.

The Sydney Metro's Bankstown extension despite its name and constant claims by the government to be improving South Western Sydney's transport stops at Bankstown. The Sydney Metro line will be from Bankstown travelling east to the City and then north to Chatswood to connect with the North West Rail Link. Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar are all west of Bankstown and having lost train services from the 2013 timetable changes can expect no benefit from the Sydney Metro.

The conversion of the Bankstown Line to Rapid Transit status for the Sydney Metro is overstated as it is only a partial conversion for some eastern stations from Bankstown and the City (St Peters and Erskenville are excluded). Also the impact of the construction of the Sydney Metro to Bankstown and longer term impacts on commuters is being downplayed by the Liberal Baird government in an attempt to cover up its implications.

During the construction period of the Sydney Metro's Bankstown extension from 2019, all Bankstown Line train services will not operate (despite the fact the the Sydney Metro uses the same rail track gauge as the regular Sydney Trains fleet). Buses will replace trains on the Bankstown Line until the completion of construction estimated to be around the early 2020s. Restore Inner West Line will call for a Lidcombe to Cabrammata via Regents Park train service during and after the construction of the Sydney Metro Bankstown extension as part of the wider effort to restore the full Inner West Line (Liverpool via Regents Park). Transport NSW has not responded to our questions about specific arrangements for commuters in the area during the construction of the Sydney Metro.

Commuters from Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar, Birrong and Yagoona can expect to see further cuts to train services with the Sydney Metro's Bankstown extension. From 2019 onwards passengers at Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar, Birrong and Yagoona will no longer have direct train services to the Inner West and City on the Bankstown Line either. Passengers will be required to make interchanges at Cabramatta, Birrong, Bankstown, Lidcombe, Strathfield for connecting services to the Inner West and City.

Restoring the Inner West Line (Liverpool via Regents Park) would be a solution to the cuts to train services on the Bankstown Line to be introduced with the construction of the Sydney Metro. Stations such as Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood and Carramar would be able to have at least 1 train instead of no trains if the Inner West Line (Liverpool via Regents Park) train service would operate along this route. The impact on Bankstown Line commuters would be significantly minimised.

Thursday, 4 June 2015

Overcrowding on the South & Western lines can be reduced with the restoration of the Inner West Line (Liverpool via Regents Park). Patronage on the South and Western Lines have exceeded 100% as all seats are taken and it's an uncomfortable standing commute.

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Train Cuts are Worst Downgrade in a Generation

Lobby the NSW Government and Transport NSW

Liverpool via Regents Park Needs Our Trains Back

What the Cuts to Trains Mean

Cutting the Inner West Line at Homebush and the removal of Liverpool via Regents Park trains with the new train timetable on October 20, 2013 has resulted in:

98% Trains Cut between Lidcombe to Liverpool (via RP)

3 Additional Interchanges at Birrong, Lidcombe, Strathfield

Increased Travel & Wait Times of 30 Minutes at Lidcombe

Increased Overcrowding on Western Line & South Line

Lack of Access to the Inner West & Sydney City

Lack of Frequent Trains with 30 Minute Service Gaps

No direct Liverpool to City via Regents Park (RP)

No direct Bankstown to City via Regents Park (RP)

Increased Traffic Congestion & lack of Commuter Parking

Support Restore Inner West Line

Community Action Group

Restore Inner West Line was started in response to Sydney Trains' 2013 timetable change.

The timetable change terminated the Inner West Line at Homebush and removed all regular Liverpool (and Bankstown) via Regents Park trains.

From 20 October 2013, in order to travel on the Liverpool via Regents Park route, commuters will be required to make up to 3 additional interchanges, have increased travel and wait times of up to 30 minutes.

The community action group and petition organised by Roydon Ng and supported by locals MPs (Auburn and Bankstown) seeks to work with residents to campaign for the restoration of Inner West Line train services.

The community is encouraged to take action through contacting the NSW Government, Transport NSW and their local MP.